After trade talks with Seattle for Vin Baker officially died yesterday morning, Knicks GM Scott Layden proclaimed it is more than likely Patrick Ewing will play this season for the Knicks in the final year of his contract.

The final blow to any Knick-Seattle talks came when free agent Maurice Taylor told the Sonics yesterday he was signing with Houston. The only way Seattle could’ve traded Baker was with Taylor in the fold, as Ewing’s superagent David Falk had promised last weekend. Seattle signing Taylor had been the key all along.

Layden said the Knicks will still explore opportunities to trade Ewing this summer with the center’s blessing, but admitted the chances of finding another Ewing deal that improves the club isn’t likely. Layden indicated he won’t panic and ship Ewing just to ship him.

“If trading Patrick can improve our team and it’s something he’s comfortable with, we’ll look into those options,” Layden said. “But right now Patrick Ewing is a Knick and if nothing else develops, he’ll be a Knick. We feel with a healthy Patrick, we have a very good basketball team, one of the best basketball teams in the East.”

The GM said the four-team, 13-player deal nearly consummated Monday in which the Knicks would have gained Baker and Glen Rice would have made the Knicks a better club. With their heart set on Rice, the Knicks were hesitant about dealing Ewing if only Baker was the prize but they still may have done it. However, the Taylor decision officially ended the talks from Seattle’s end as they were then unable to part with Baker.

“If it’s something that can improve our ballclub, we will look at it,” Layden said of future trade talks.

Ewing has given the Knicks a list of eight teams he would consider being traded to. It’s possible the Knicks will ask Ewing to be more flexible and add more clubs. Washington, Miami, Phoenix and Philadelphia are believed to be some of the other clubs.

Layden said he expects Ewing to have a “great season” and receive a “standing ovation” on opening night at the Garden Oct. 31 vs. the Sixers. But if Ewing’s performance isn’t up to past standards, the booing will be worse then ever, especially with the fans knowing Ewing wanted out.

Layden, after being asked about the incredibly awkward position Ewing will find himself in this season, said, “Patrick’s a consummate professional. He understands the business. He always has himself ready. He always plays hard, gets himself ready in the offseason. I would expect the same out of him this year. I think he’s going to have a great year this year. Whatever awkward feelings there may be, I expect him to have a great season for the Knicks. I know one thing: When he runs through that tunnel at Madison Square Garden, there’s going to be a standing ovation.”

Layden also stressed Ewing’s agent Falk did not put a gun to the Knicks’ head regarding a contract extension and there’s been no “animosity or bitterness” in this process.

“This is not a case of us wanting to get rid of Patrick or Patrick demanding a trade,” said Layden, who even denied Falk asked for a contract extension. “It’s a mutual situation.”

Layden did not specify why Ewing wanted, as he termed it, “a fresh start.” Layden said after the season he was not fibbing when he indicated he wouldn’t trade Ewing. Layden said since those infamous remarks, the two parties reached “an understanding.”

While the Knicks will try to make a deal, the Knicks probably blew their lone chance of trading Ewing for some value, which was Baker, a 28-year-old four-time All-Star with tremendous upside now that he’s lost weight. They could be stuck with the 38-year-old Ewing for one more season, stuck with a player who more likely than not will break down at some point.

Asked directly if it’s more than likely Ewing will be back for his 16th season, Layden said “That’s the way we’re proceeding right now. To reiterate, we feel very good about this ballclub. If we went to camp with this team, we’d feel every good about our chances.”

Perhaps Layden hasn’t looked at Miami’s roster yet. If the Knicks stand Pat, no pun intended, they won’t match up well with Miami, which has added Eddie Jones, Brian Grant and Anthony Mason.

This Summer of Ewing has been a nightmare, perhaps the worst summer in franchise history, capped by the destruction of the Ewing deal. It started with their botched attempt at getting Grant Hill to visit New York. They then lost Grant to Miami, failed to land Danny Fortson, saw their trusty assistant Brendan Malone hop to rival Indiana and now this mess.

Layden tried desperately to paint a happy face on how Ewing is handling the trade’s debacle. “We can’t emphasize enough how professional he’s been,” Layden said. “He’s handled this in a very mature manner.”